Instant Replay: Phillies 3, Braves 2

Instant Replay: Phillies 3, Braves 2

ATLANTA — Adam Morgan pitched a beauty in his hometown and Maikel Franco clouted a solo home run to lead the Phillies to a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on Tuesday night.

The Phillies have won three in a row and are now 4-4 on this 10-game trip. They are 19-14 overall and could improve to a season-high six games over .500 with a win Wednesday night.

The Phils’ last seven wins have all been by one run. They are 12-3 in one-run games.

The Braves have the worst record in the majors at 7-24.

The Braves entered the game averaging just three runs per game, the lowest mark in the majors. The Phillies had the second-worst average runs per game at 3.25.

Starting pitching reportMorgan, who was raised in the Atlanta suburbs, had his best start since his recall from Triple A late last month. He scattered four hits, three of which were singles, over seven innings of one-run ball. He walked one and struck out four.

Morgan pitched well in two losing starts at Turner Field last year. He gave up just four earned runs in 13 innings in those starts.

Atlanta’s Matt Wisler gave up three runs over eight innings and took the loss.

Bullpen reportHector Neris pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Jeanmar Gomez maintained at least a share of the major-league lead with his 12th save.

Gomez did allow a leadoff homer in the ninth to Freddie Freeman. That made it a one-run game.

At the plateFranco had two singles and a home run, his seventh of the season, to lead the Phillies’ attack. He scored two of the Phillies’ three runs.

Freddy Galvis and Cesar Hernandez drove in runs for the Phillies with a sacrifice fly and a single. Hernandez’s hit came with two outs in the fifth after Peter Bourjos doubled off the top off the left-field wall with one out.

Bourjos hit two balls hard in the game. He also singled in the ninth.

The Braves had just four hits over the first eight innings.

In the fieldGalvis started a beautiful 6-4-3 double play to help Morgan get out of trouble in the fourth inning. Galvis has made just one error in 32 games. He made 17 last season.

Health checkCody Asche continues to make progress in his return from a strained oblique muscle. He is taking batting practice in Clearwater and is expected to play in an extended spring training game on Wednesday or Thursday. If all goes well, Asche could soon begin an official minor-league rehabilitation assignment.

Minor mattersAndrew Pullin, the Phillies’ fifth-round pick in 2012, has returned to the organization after briefly retiring in April, a team official said.

Odubel Herrera appears to be headed to the disabled list

Odubel Herrera appears to be headed to the disabled list

SAN FRANCISCO — Odubel Herrera missed his third straight game because of a sore left hamstring Thursday night and it sounds as if he's headed to the disabled list.

"It's a day-to-day thing," manager Pete Mackanin said before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. "He might be going on the DL. We're thinking about it."

Herrera, riding a 17-game hitting streak, injured the hamstring late in Monday night's game in San Diego and did not play Tuesday or Wednesday. The Phillies filled out their bench for Thursday night's game by bringing versatile utility man Pedro Florimon up from Triple A. To make room for Florimon on the 40-man roster, the Phillies designated reliever Pedro Beato for assignment.

The Phillies created room for Florimon on the active roster by sending starting pitcher Nick Pivetta to Triple A. That assignment should be brief as he is expected to come back and pitch in Tuesday's doubleheader against Miami (see story).

With Herrera out, Mackanin used rookie Nick Williams in center field. Another rookie, Rhys Hoskins, started in left and Hyun Soo Kim was in right field.

Mackanin said Herrera "still has some tenderness" in the hamstring and he was waiting for an update from the team's medical staff on whether to place the outfielder on the DL.

The Phillies will be without their best hitter for a third straight game.

Because of a nagging left hamstring, Odubel Herrera is not in the lineup Thursday night when the Phillies kick off a four-game series against the Giants at AT&T Park.

The Phillies' centerfielder, who is considered day to day, is slashing .379/.431/.636 with three homers, two triples, four doubles and 10 RBIs over his 17-game hitting streak.

To replace Herrera, Nick Williams will see another start in center field, while Hyun Soo Kim plays right field. Williams moves up to third in the lineup, where Rhys Hoskins hit Wednesday. Hoskins, who has three homers over his last three games, will hit cleanup, followed by the struggling Maikel Franco, who is 4 for his last 30 (.133).

Meanwhile, Tommy Joseph slides to the seven-hole. The first baseman is 1 for his last 16 and hasn't homered in 18 games.

In roster news, the Phillies selected the contract of utility man Pedro Florimon from Triple A Lehigh Valley. To make a spot for him on the 40-man roster, right-hander Pedro Beato was designated for assignment.

Fortunately for the Phillies tonight, Aaron Nola takes the ball and opposes Giants right-hander Jeff Samardzija. For more on the game, read Corey Seidman's game notes right here (see story).